Philly Sports Jabronis
By Max Rappaport, Sixers.com
It was exactly one month ago that the Sixers opened their 2014-15 season with a 103-91 loss on the road to the Indiana Pacers. Fourteen losses of varying harshness followed, with none more painful than the 123-70 defeat the team suffered in Dallas just over two weeks ago. In a rematch with the Mavericks on Saturday, the team suffered their 16th defeat of the young season, but besides the final result the game felt nothing like the team’s 53-point November 13 loss to Dallas.
Michael Carter-Williams had his best performance of the season, notching a triple-double and setting a new career high with 16 assists. K.J. McDaniels was outstanding, coming off the bench to lead the game with a career-high 21 points and 13 rebounds. And, more importantly, the team played a hard-fought, grind-it-out game against one of the league’s most talented and experienced teams.
“We’re heartbroken that we haven’t won. You can’t dismiss that. It hurts me terribly. I feel for the city, because we want to get it right. But down deep, I feel like I know something that’s going on that I like,” said head coach Brett Brown after the game. “I feel like [our team] will be rewarded for the work that it’s putting in, and I hope that it’s sooner rather than later to validate their efforts.”
Top Performers
• Michael Carter-Williams: 18 points (4/13 FG, 10/12 FT), 16 assists, 10 rebounds
• K.J. McDaniels: 21 points (8/17 FG, 2/3 3P), 13 rebounds, 2 blocks
• Nerlens Noel: 10 points (5/10 FG), 9 rebounds, 1 block, 1 steal
• Alexey Shved: 18 points (5/9 FG, 4/6 3P, 6/8 FT), 5 assists, 4 rebounds, 2 steals
Behind The Numbers: 22
After Saturday’s game, Coach Brown applauded the team’s fight and hustle. The stats back up his words. The Sixers outrebounded the Mavericks 22-13 on the offensive end. Nineteen of Philadelphia’s points came on second-chance opportunities and another 25 came on the fastbreak. The Sixers outscored Dallas 44-27 in those two categories.
Making History: K.J. McDaniels
Accoring to Basketball-Reference.com, K.J. McDaniels’ nine offensive rebounds and two blocked shots against the Mavericks make him the first perimeter player (guard or guard/forward) to hit those marks in a game since Dominique Wilkins during the 1990-91 season.
Up Next
The Sixers return to action on Monday when they host the San Antonio Spurs at 7pm (EST). It will be Jewish Heritage Night at The Center, featuring the singing of the Jewish National Anthem, the recognition of local Jewish war heroes at halftime, and kosher food options on 11th street side of the concourse. It is Dollar Dog Night.
